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But the coroner read a statement from staff nurse Camilla Fox, who said the rails on the right-hand side of the bed were down.

She added: “I heard a noise and found the patient on the floor. I shouted for help and supported her on the floor. I asked her questions, which she answered clearly and coherently.”

However, she said Mrs Phelps started to look pale and became clammy.

Fellow nurse Rebecca Dan said the patient struck her head in the fall, adding that her family looked “visibly shocked” when they were told what had happened.

As a result of the accident the pensioner suffered a bleed on the brain, which was inoperable, and died a few hours later.

Hospital staff said an investigation was launched into the incident and steps had been taken to prevent any similar tragedies in the future.

The coroner said Mrs Phelps died as a result of injuries she received in the fall and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

After the hearing her daughters, Jan Oriel, of Hove, and Teresa Harris, of Totton, said their mother was a happy, jolly person who had been failed by the NHS.

Jan said: “If that nurse had raised the bed rail she would still be alive today.”

Referring to her mother’s cancer she added: “She did not have a chance to fight it because that chance was taken away.”

Juliet Pearce, patient safety manager at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, issued a statement after the hearing.

She said: “We hope the information shared with family members both in hospital and at the inquest demonstrates the trust’s regret and concern about this incident as well as our commitment to minimise the risk of falls.

“We will continue to provide Mrs Phelps’s family with our support and will keep them informed of the improvements made to systems and practices to prevent other families suffering the loss of a loved one under similar circumstances.”

Comments (2)

This is a disgrace !! Clearly a case of negligence by hospital staff, leaving a family devastated by the loss of a loved one. Incidents such as this should not be above reproach, the hospital are most definitely responsible !!
My thoughts are with the family.

This is a disgrace !! Clearly a case of negligence by hospital staff, leaving a family devastated by the loss of a loved one. Incidents such as this should not be above reproach, the hospital are most definitely responsible !!
My thoughts are with the family.JUPITER1

Im sorry but this smacks of negligence, ok nurses are busy I accept that but the rails should be up for people who are vulnerable and at risk from falling out of bed that's what they are there for surely

Im sorry but this smacks of negligence, ok nurses are busy I accept that but the rails should be up for people who are vulnerable and at risk from falling out of bed that's what they are there for surelysparkster